Check-controlled apparatus.



PATBNTED-Nov. 7, 1905l J. H. WILLIAMS. CHECK GONTROLLED APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DBO.8. 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

HIL

No. 804,079. PATENTBD NOV. 7, 1905.

J. E. WILLIAMS.

CHECK GONTROLLED APPARATUS. APPLIoATroN FILED Dnc.a.1eos.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 804,079. PATENTED NOV. 7, 1905. J. H. WILLIAMS.

CHECK CONTROLLED APPARATUS.

APPLIGATION FILED 1320.8, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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UNTTF STATES Parana cierren.

CHECK-CONTROLLED APPARATUS.

Specification of yLetters Patent.

Patented Nov. 7, 1905.

Application iled December 8, 1903. Serial No.l 184,334.

`To all whom t may concern.-

Beit known that I, JOHN HWILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Albion, in the county of Orleans and State of New York, haveinvented a new and useful Check-Controlled Apparatus, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of vending-machines popularlydesignated coincontrolled apparatus and operable to deliver an articleto a purchaser upon the insertion into the apparatus of a coin of theproper value.

The object is to provide simple mechanism of this character for vendingnewspapers or other merchandise and to so construct the same that whileit is easily operable upon the insertion of the proper coin it issecurely locked against operation under ordinary conditions. At thesame'time the exposed portion of the operating means is freely movable,so that the structure cannot be wrenched, strained, or injured byavmalicious or mischievous person.

An embodiment of the invention and one that is at present consideredpreferable is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure1 is a horizontal sectional view through the casing of the machine,showing a plan view of the vending device 'and operating mechanismtherefor. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the machine. Fig.3 is a sectional view taken on the line .3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is asectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1. i

Similar reference-numerals indicate correspondingparts in all thefigures of the drawings.

In the embodiment illustrated a suitable casing 10 is employed, whichcompletely houses the vending device and .operating mechanism therefor.A portion of the cas- -"ing is cylindrical in form and is provided inone side with an aperture 1l. Within the cylindrical portion is mountedthe vending device. The same comprises an upright standard 12, upon thelower portion of which is rotatably mounted a circularhorizontallydisposed disk 13. This disk supports and has secured theretoa stem 14,`which is also rotatable upon the standard 12 and carries aradially-disposed series of sets of coacting clips 15, preferably formedof wire and of the shape illustrated clearly in Fig. 2. The clips ofeach set are arranged to embrace a newspaper or other article to bevended, as illustrated in Fig. 1, and said sets are movable successivelyinto alinement with the aperture 11, through which the articles can beremoved from the machine. The particular form and construction of theclips is not of great importance and may be varied as desired to suitthe articles held thereby.

The operating mechanism'is constructed as follows: A lever is employedcomprising an actuating-section 16, ournaled upon the lower portion ofthe stem 14 and freely revoluble with respect thereto. Consequently theaxis of movement of this section is coincident with the aXis of rotationof the vending device. In order to obtain the pivotal connection, theinner end of the section is preferably in the form of a split ring 17,the free ends of which are secured together by a bolt or screw 18. Theouter end of the section 16 projects toward the casing, and to said endis pivotally attached a handle-section 19, the pivotal connection beingshown at 20. The handle-section projects through a slot 21, formed inthe side of the casing. The sections 16 and 19 are provided contiguousto the pivot 20 with alined slots 22, constituting a coin-receivingpocket having an open bottom and normally alined with a suitablecoin-chute 23, by means of which a coin introduced through the casingwillbe directed into said pocket. The lever-sections are normally heldin alinement with the lower end of this coin-chute by springs 24, eachsecured at one end to one of the sections and having their other endsfastened to a post 25, located within the casing. The actuating-section16 is provided with a spring-tooth 26, located beneath the disk 13 andarranged to engage behind depending projections or teeth 27, carried bythe under side of the disk. Said projections, as vwill be seen byreference to Figs. 2 and 3, have their front faces at right angles tothe disk, while their rear faces are inclined. Thus the tooth 26 willfreely ride over the projections during the rearward movement of thelever and will engage against the front faces of said projections, andconsequently move the disk and vending device. When the lever is in itsrearmost position, it is arranged upon a supporting-block 28, locatedwithin the lower portion of the casing, and during its forward movementit is supported by a curved track 29, extending from said block, theportion of the block 28 below the coin-receiving pocket 22 being cutaway IOS IIO

and preferably beveled, as shown at 30. For the purpose of normallyholding the vending device against movement a lock is employedcomprising a latch 31, pivoted, as shown at 32, to the side of the block2S and, having its upper end arranged to engage successively in notches33, formed in the eriphery of the disk 13. The latch 31 has at its lowerend an inwardly-extending arm 34, upon which is slidably mounted aweight S5, that can beheld against movement by means of a set-screw 36.The latch also .is provided with an outwardly-extending pallet 37, thatis located in the cut-away portion 30 of the block 28 and is normallylocated beneath the open bottom of the coin-receiving pocket 22. Withthis description of the mechanism it isbelieved that the operation ofthe same can be readily understood. When a coin of the proper value hasbeen inserted through the chute 23, it will pass into the pocket 22 andrest upon the pallet 37. This will cause the depression of the pallet,and consequently the latch will be disengaged from the notch,

and the vending device will therefore be unlocked. At the same time itwill be observed by reference to Fig. 4 that the coin will be locatedpartly in the slot of each lever-section, and said sections will thus beheld against relative movement. At the same time the spring-finger 26will be disposed in rear of one of the depending projections or teeth 27of the disk. Therefore if the handle is now operated the lever willcause a partial revolution of the disk and bring one of the sets ofclips, with the article held therebetween, into alinement with. theaperture ll, whereupon such article can be grasped and withdrawn fromthe casing. Upon releasing the handle the lateral pressure upon the coinis released, and said coin will drop from the pocket into the lowerportion of the casing, the springs 24 causing the lever to assume itsnormal position. Upon the movement of the lever to turn the vendingdevice the coin will be carried from the pallet 87, and the weightreacting upon the lock will swing the latch 3l against the periphery ofthe disk, so that when the next notch comes into alinement with saidlatch it will be engaged thereby and the device held against furthermovement. If it is desired to place articles of a different value in thevending device, it is only necessary to change the relation of theweight 35 upon the arm 34, so that it will require a coin of a greateror less weight to operate the lock. It will be apparent by reference tothe accompanying drawings that the machine is extremely simple and thatwhen a coin has been placed therein it is easily operable. Under normalconditions, however, the vending device is securely locked againstmovement, while the exposed handle is freely movable. This movement,however, only swings the handle into the casing, and no out furtherdescription, and it will be understood that various changes in the size,shape, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted towithout departing .from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantagesof the invention.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In check-controlled apparatus, the combination with a vending device,of a lever for moving the same comprising an inner swinging section, andanother section pivoted upon the free portion of the inner section andmovable with respect thereto, said sections havingl check-holding means,which, when a check is inserted therein, holds said sections againstrelative movement.

2.` In check-controlled apparatus, the combination with a rotatablearticle-vending device, of a lever for moving the same comprising aninner swinging section having aratchet connection with the vendingdevice, and a handle-section pivoted upon the free portion of the innersection and movable with respect thereto, said sections havingcheckholding means, which, when a check is inserted therein, holds saidsections against relative movement.

3. In check-controlled apparatus, the combination with a rotatablevending device, of a lever comprising an actuating-section having itsaxis substantially coincident with the axis of the vending-machine, anda handlesection pivoted upon the free end of the actuatinCf-section,said sections being provided with ail-lined slots which constitute acheckreceiving pocket.

4. In check-controlled apparatus, the combination with an uprightstandard, of an article-vending device rotatably mounted upon the upperportion of the standard, a lever comprising an actuating-section pivotedupon the lower portion of the standard beneath the vending device, and ahandle-section pivoted at its inner end upon the outer portion of thelever, said sections having alined slots arranged contiguous to thepivot of the sections and constituting a check-receiving pocket.

5. In check-controlled apparatus, the combination with a movable vendingdevice, of an operating device therefor comprising relatively movablesections movable in one direction independently of the vending device,said operating device having a coin-receiver located partially in eachsection, and a coinactuated lock for the vending device having acoin-supporting portion located beneath IOO IIO

the coin-receiver and arranged to support a coin therein in engagementwith both sections of the operating device to prevent their relativemovement.

6. In check-controlled apparatus, the combination with a rotatablevending device, of a pivoted operating-lever therefor movableindependently of the vending device in one direction and comprisingpivotally-connected sections having a check-receiving pocket thatextends through both sections, and a lock engaging the vending deviceand having a check-support disposed beneath the pocket of the lever andarranged to support a check Awith portions thereof in engagement withboth sections of said lever to prevent the relative movement of thesame.

7. In check-controlled apparatus, the combination with a vending deviceincluding a circular disk having outstanding projections, of a leversuccessively engaging the projections and having a movement in onedirection independently of the'vending device comprising anactuating-section having its pivot-axis substantially coincident withthe aXis of the vending device, a handle-section pivoted to theactuating-section, said sections being provided with alined slotsconstituting an open-bottomed check-receiving pocket, and acheck-controlled lock for the vending device having a pallet locatedbeneath the check-receiving pocket and arranged to support a check insaid pocket and in the slots of both sections.

8. In check-controlled apparatus, the combination with a rotatablevending device having peripheral notches,.of means for ro tating thevending device, a check-controlled lock for normally holding the vendingdevice against movement, said lock comprising an upright latch pivotedbetween its ends, the upper portion of the latch being arranged toengage in the notches of the vending device, and outstanding armscarried by the lower end of the device beneath the pivot, a weightadjustably attached to the arm, and a coinsupporting pallet projectingfrom the side of the latch opposite the weight and connected to saidlatch contiguous to its pivot.

9. In check-controlled apparatus, the combination with a rotatablevending device including a circular disk having peripheral notches andoutstanding projections, of a lever successively engaging theprojections comprising an actuating-section having its pivot-axislsubstantially coincident with the axis of the vending device, and ahandle-section pivoted to the actuating-section, said sections beingprovided with alined slots constituting an open-bottomed check-receivingpocket, and a pivoted lock comprising a latch portion that engagessuccessively in the peripheral notches of the disk, and achecksupporting pallet located beneath the checkreceiving pocket.

l0. In check-controlled apparatus, the combination with anarticle-vending device, of a lever for moving the same comprising aninner swinging section and another section pivoted upon the free portionof the inner section and movable with respect thereto, y

said sections having a checkeholding pocket provided with an openbottom, and a movable lock for holding the article-vending deviceagainst movement, said lock including a supporting element locatedbeneath the open bottom of the pocket and arranged to be moved by acheck placed in the pocket, said element supporting such check inengagement with both sections to prevent their relative movement.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aiiixedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

i JOHN H. WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

IRVING M. THOMPSON, JOHN B. LEE.

